Water sprinkler



Nov. 7, 1961 w. GERRANS 3,007,

WATER SPRINKLER Filed March 25, 1959 Q IO I2 3- l6 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM L. emu/vs PATENT AGENT UnitedStat The present invention relatesto water sprinkler systems and more panticularly, to the individualsprinklers, a plurality of which are employed in such systems.

Sprinkling systems have come into extensive use, both on small lawns andon large farms and ranches. In the latter type of installation, sinceextensive areas have to be covered, a jet-forming sprinkler has come mtoextensive use, the sprinkler body being arranged to revolve slowly sothat the laterally projecting jet will project water over a relativelylarge diameter circular area. To maximize such diameter, an appropriatejet-forming nozzle is removably secured in the sprinkler outlet. Fromtime to time, the nozzle opening becomes clogged with foreign materialto stop the flow of water therefrom and must be removed for cleaning.However, if the nozzle is'removed without turning off the main valve ofthe sprinkler system, which at times may be located one quarter of amile or more from the particular sprinkler which must be cleansed, theattendant will be thoroughly drenched, and furthermore will experienceextreme difficulty in replacing the nozzle against the pressure of theflowing water, which pressure at times may be 80 or 90 pounds per squareinch.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the presentinvention to providean individual water sprinkler WlllCh 1ncorporates therewithin a valvethat is normally open but can conveniently be closed by an attendantdesiring to cleanse the sprinkler nozzle or service any other partthereof.

It is a particular feature of the lnvention to provide a sprinkler whichincorporates a valve 1n such a manner that the same is normally urged toits opened positron but can be conveniently engaged by a simpledetachable operating member to effect closing and locking of .the valvein its closed position.

It is another feature of the invention to provide a sprinkler having avalve therein wherein certain operating functions of the valve arecarried out through the use of certain sprinkler parts which thereforeserve a dual func, tion.

More particularly, it is a feature of the invention to provide for theincorporation of a valve structure 1n a revolving type sprinkler whereina minimum modification of the sprinkler structure need be made to enableaddition of the valve thereto, wherefore substantially no increase inthe cost of the sprinkler with the valve incorporated is necessitated.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become moreapparent from a perusal of the following description of the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sprinkler incorporating a valve inaccordance with the present invention, parts thereof being broken awayto show interior details, the valve being illustrated in its openedposition,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the valve moved to itsclosed position by engagement with an operating handle, and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Basically, the sprinkler illustrated in the drawing is of theconventional revolvable type with a valve structure added thereto inaccordance with the concepts of the present invention. Moreparticularly, as shown in the drawing, the sprinkler includes a hollowmain body member having inlet and outlet portions 12, 14 formed therein.The inlet portion 12 is internally threaded for A 3,007,646 I PatentedNov. 7, 1961 reception of the external threads on the upper end of avertically disposed hollow spindle 16, which at its lower end issupported for rotation within a nut 18 that provides for connection to awater supply pipe in the normal fashion. When so supported, the outletportion '14 of the body member 10 is directed laterally and upwardly ata slight angle from the vertical axis of the inlet 12. This outletportion 14 is also internally threaded for reception therein of a nozzle22 having an appropriate jet-forming orifice extending axiallytherethrough.

In accordance with the present invention, the upper end of the hollowspindle 16 is formed to provide a conical valve seat 24 that is adaptedto receive the conical end of a valve member 26, preferably formed fromrubber or other resilient material. Such valve member 26 is mounted atthe lower end of a substantially vertical valve stem 28 that projectsslidably through a bore in the upper wall of the body member 10 and asecond aligned bore formed in a cunved upward extension 10a of the bodymember. This upper bore is flattened on one side and the upper portionof the valve stem 28 which projects therethrough is also flattened asindicated at 28a in a similar manner wherefore the valve stem isprecluded from rotation but permitted the aforementioned sliding motionenabling the valve 26 on its lower end to move into sealing engagementwith the described valve seat 24.

In addition to its valve-supporting function, the valve stem 28 supportsfor rotation thereon the hub 30 of an oscillating arm 32, one end ofwhich is arranged in a known manner to intersect the path of waterlaterally projected from the described nozzle 22. Diametrically oppositethe oscillating arm 32, a hammer 34 projects from the hub 30 and a coilspring 36 is connected between the inner end of such hammer and thevalve stem 28 to normally urge the hammer by torsional force against thepreviously described upwardly curving extension 10a of the body member10. When the hammer 34 is so disposed against the extension 10a, theoscillating arm 32 is in jet-intersecting position. The end of such arm32 is shaped so that the water engaging the same will urge the arm 32,its mounting hub 30 and the hammer 34 in a rotative direction such thatthe hammer is moved away from the upwardly projecting extension 10a ofthe body member and is thereafter returned to the illustrated positionby the action of the coil spring 36. As a consequence, an oscillatingaction occurs and each time the hammer 34 engages the upwardly curvingextension 10a on the body member, a slight rotative movement of theentire sprinkler is eflected. Thus, as is well known, a slowly revolvingsprinkling action is obtained.

The coil spring 36 connected between the hammer 34 and the valve stem 28is also under a slight degree of compression so as to normally urge thevalve stem into its upper position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, butdownward force against the end of valve stem will urge the valve 26against the spring action into engagement with the valve seat 24. Inorder to provide such force, a simple handle 40 having a cupshapedreceptacle 42 is adapted for operative engagement with the upper end ofthe valve stem 28, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3. Laterally-projectingpins 44 adjacent the lower end of the receptacle 42 form opposed latchmembers that are adapted upon depression of the valve stem 28 androtation of the handle 40 to enter keeper notches 46 formed at the upperextremity of the upwardly curving body member extension 10a at positionson opposite sides of the bore therethrough. The screwed insertion of thevalve-seat forming spindle 16 into the main body member 10 is adjustedaccurately so that the valve 26 will come into sealing engagementtherewith when the handle 40 has been applied to the valve stem 28 andlatched in its locking position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Quite obviously, when the handle 40 is turned so that the latching pins44 are removed from the keeper notches 46 and downward pressure isreleased, the valve member 26 will be automatically returned to itsupper position, such movement resulting from the action from thecompressed coil spring 36 and also from the force of water against thevalve, it being noted that the exposed surface area of the valve member26 is greater on its lower than on its upper side. When the valve member26 is returned to its fully opened position, it is disposed out of thepath of flowing water so as not to interfere with such flow, as canreadily be visualized by reference to FIG. 1.

The dual functioning of various parts in the described structure shouldbe re-emphasized. The spindle 16 not only serves as a rotatable supportbut provides the valve seat 24 at its upper end. The valve stem 28 notonly provides for motion of the valve 26 but provides rotatable supportfor the oscillating arm 32 and furthermore the spring 36 acts bothtorsionally on the arm 32 and compressively on the valve stem 28. Thuseach of these necessary parts for the sprinkler mechanism also serve asessential elements of the valve mechanism in the illustrated preferredembodiment of the invention.

Various modifications and/or alterations can be made in the describedstructure without departing from the spirit of the present invention,and the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment is to beconsidered as purely exemplary and not in a limiting sense. The actualscope of the invention is to be indicated by reference to the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sprinkler which comprises a hollow body member having an inlet andoutlet, means supporting said body member for rotation about asubstantially vertical axis and with said outlet directed laterally, avalve seat within said hollow body member, a valve arranged for movementinto sealing engagement with said valve seat, a valve stem connected tosaid valve and extending through said body member to project upwardlytherefrom, said valve stem being supported by said body member for axialsliding movement toward and away from said valve seat, an oscillatingarm mounted for free rotation on said valve stem and having one endadapted for intersection with the path of water from saidlaterally-directed outlet where by said arm is urged in one rotativedirection, a coil spring connected between said arm and said valve stemto urge said arm in the opposite rotative direction and to move saidvalve away from said valve seat.

2. A sprinkler according to claim 1 which comprises means for holdingsaid valve against said valve seat.

3. A sprinkler according to claim 2 wherein said holding means includesa handle detachably connected to said valve stem.

4. A sprinkler which .comprises a hollow body member having a fluidinlet and outlet, a valve seat within said body member, a valve adaptedfor sealing engagement with said valve seat, a valve stem connected tosaid valve and extending substantially vertically through said bodymember to project upwardly therefrom, said valve stem being supported bysaid body member for axial sliding movement toward and away from saidvalve seat, an arm mounted for free rotation on said projecting valvestem and having a portion adapted to intersect the path of fluid fromsaid outlet, and spring means arranged to urge said arm in one directionof rotation and to move said valve away from said valve seat.

5. A sprinkler according to claim 4 wherein said valve stem is heldagainst rotation.

6. A sprinkler according to claim 4 which comprises means operable tomove said valve against said valve seat and to lock said valve in suchseated position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

